We return to Sandton today and are leaving by the Orpen Gate. On the way we saw ostrich but the piece de resistance were three bull elephants who came ambling down the road in front and towards of us. They stopped about 30 feet away and the one in the front turned and seemed to be consulting with the other two. He turned and they continued on towards us and just as Joy was think of starting the engine and getting out of their way they turned off the road and took a path parallel to us.
We left the park and the area immediately outside was crowded with small badly built houses, really no more than huts, which were cramped and clustered together. These had been built on tribal land and anyone wanting to build on the land had to get the permission of the chief. Apart from that there were no building regulations. Also, so it appeared, there was no sanitation and rubbish lay all along the side of the road. This however is nothing unusual here because the people want to move away from areas of trouble and crime and set up makeshift squatter areas around towns and cities, where they hope to live in peace.
We had hoped to take the scenic route back via God's Window which I have visited before and wanted J to see but the weather was extremely overcast and had closed in and at times it rained heavily with the tops of the kopjes covered in clouds and mist.
The rain stopped briefly so we were able to drive in to see Pilgrim’s Rest, the old gold mining town, now a historic site. One sees, or perhaps I should say saw, so many corrugated iron buildings when I lived in Johannesburg in the 50s that this little 'dorp' seems familiar rather than unusual. Perhaps tourists see it differently - as an example of the way 'white' folk lived in the 19th century however it was a familiar sight less than half a century ago to anyone living in Jeppe, Johannesburg.
We then drove through a town called Belfast, quite an awful place to see if we could find any hair spray which was something I had hoped to find on first arrival and which we have been hunting for ever since. No one seems to stock it.
We then drove to a popular souvenir shop, I have no idea where, I think it was called Forever Memory, at least that was what it said on the bag, which Joy knew and we bought a couple of glass elephants, one of which we gave to Joy at the hotel, just before she left us.
Monday 28th November 2005
Joe and went into Sandton by taxi, Joy having told us it was too dangerous to walk in. Went into the mall and had a wander around and bought a china elephant and had a coffee and took photos of the Christmas display. Then our taxi driver returned to take us back.
We then drove through a town called Belfast, quite an awful place to see if we could find any hair spray which was something I had hoped to find on first arrival and which we have been hunting for ever since. No one seems to stock it.
We then drove to a popular souvenir shop, I have no idea where, I think it was called Forever Memory, at least that was what it said on the bag, which Joy knew and we bought a couple of glass elephants, one of which we gave to Joy at the hotel, just before she left us.
Monday 28th November 2005
Joe and went into Sandton by taxi, Joy having told us it was too dangerous to walk in. Went into the mall and had a wander around and bought a china elephant and had a coffee and took photos of the Christmas display. Then our taxi driver returned to take us back.
For us, apart from never stopping talking which even then was full of interest, she was was the ideal guide. She knew a tremendous amount about the country and its history, and the Kruger and was at our beck and call at all times. Had made all the arrangements in the Kruger, did all the cooking and washing up and was there for us every moment apart from when we were sleeping. She took great care of us and we would certainly recommend her tours. Joe and I both agree this is the best holiday we have ever had - despite the long flight..
We returned to our room after lunch for a short sleep because we were due to leave for the airport at 5.30. While sleeping I received a phone call from Ann (Dot). She had been trying to contact us since our arrival back yesterday and had left numerous messages for us because they wanted to come in and see us before we left. None of these messages had been passed on to us and now, since we were leaving soon, it was too late for them to get in to Sandton. I apologised to her and said how upset I was that the hotel had not passed on her messages because we’d had plenty of time to meet them today.
Afterwards I went to the reception and asked about the messages and at first denied they had received any, until I told them the person concerned had actually called in an left a message at the desk. They then admitted that the messages had been received and had not been passed on. I was very angry and told them that my daughter had wanted to see me before we left and this was probably the last time I would ever see her, which is true.. It was very disappointing and unfortunate ending to what has been a wonderful experience..
Wednesday 30 November 2005
The journey back, in similar seating to the journey out, was, as expected uncomfortable and tiring made even worse by the fact that people again stood behind us and talked loudly in the middle of the night. The stewardesses refused to ask them to speak quietly or do anything to stop them annoying other passengers. So what were we? Showed how much concern they had for the comfort of other passengers when they allowed this to occur. The film was the War of the Worlds but the noise of the engines made listening difficult.
Since we arrived back home we have been sleeping a lot - trying to catrch up on all those early mornings although we were always in bed by 9 or 9.30 in the Kruger.
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